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IN TODAY’S RADIO REPORT: Sea World vows to end captive orca breeding program; Great Barrier Reef in distress amid worldwide coral bleaching event; Americans’ concern about global warming rises to new levels; Severe drought shuts down Venezuela; PLUS: Not just Flint — towns across America have a lead contamination problem… All that and more in today’s Green News Report!
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IN ‘GREEN NEWS EXTRA’ (see links below): Carbon emissions highest in 66 million years, since dinosaur age; How Water Shortages Threaten Jobs And Growth Across The World; Baltimore Struggles To Protect Children From Lead Paint; Panama Canal Sets Depth Limit On Ships Due To Drought; Michigan Outlines Flint Recovery Plan; Sasol’s huge petrochemical project dissolves environmental justice community; As Coal’s Future Grows Murkier, Banks Pull Financing; Feds Propose 5-Year Water Bottling Permit For Nestle In California… PLUS: New Galápagos Sanctuary Has World’s Highest Abundance of Sharks… and much, MUCH more! …
STORIES DISCUSSED ON TODAY’S ‘GREEN NEWS REPORT’…
- It’s Not Just Flint: Nearly 2,000 Water Systems Have Lead Contamination Problem:
- Lead Levels High In Almost 2,000 Water Systems Across All 50 States (USA Today):
Tests for cities, rural subdivisions and even schools and day cares serving water to 6 million people have found excessive and harmful levels of lead.
- Legal loophole might be exposing children to lead in the nation’s schools (Washington Post):
Under federal law, the vast majority of schools don’t have to test the water flowing out of their taps and drinking fountains, and many states and districts also do not mandate water testing at schools.
- The poisonous conservative thinking that caused the Flint crisis (Washington Post) [emphasis added]:
Congress has hamstrung the federal government, giving states the authority to enforce drinking-water standards and all but eliminating the EPA’s power to intervene. This is a pure expression of the conservative doctrine of federalism: States handle things better than the feds because they are closer to the people.
- Op-ed Stop the next Flint, by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy (Washington Post):
Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, Congress gives states primary responsibility for enforcing drinking water rules for the nation’s approximately 152,000 water systems, but the Environmental Protection Agency has oversight authority.
- It’s not just Flint. Lead taints water across the U.S., EPA records show (Washington Post)
- Drought Forces Venezuela To Shut Down
- Guri Dam – Source of 65% of Venezuela’s Electricity – 3.56 Meters from Collapse (Latin American Herald Tribune):
Water levels at the hydroelectric dam are 3.56 meters from the start of a “collapse” of the national electric system, say experts.
- Venezuela to Shut Down for a Week to Cope With Electricity Crisis (Bloomberg):
The government has rationed electricity and water supplies across the country for months and urged citizens to avoid waste as Venezuela endures a prolonged drought that has slashed output at hydroelectric dams.
- Venezuela is shutting down for a whole week — thanks to a crippling electricity crisis (Vox)
- Sea World To End Captive Orca Breeding Program:
- VIDEO: SeaWorld official: These were not easy decisions (CNN)
- VIDEO: SeaWorld’s orcas will be last generation at parks (CNN)
- Phasing out SeaWorld orca shows overdue (USA Today)
- PETA: SeaWorld’s Orcas Should Be Placed in Sea Sanctuaries (NBC News)
- NOAA February 2016 Hottest On Record:
- February breaks global temperature records by ‘shocking’ amount (Guardian UK):
Warnings of climate emergency after surface temperatures 1.35C warmer than average temperature for the month
- Stunning Global Heat Wave Pushes Planet Into Uncharted Territory (Bloomberg)
- Hottest Winter On Record By Far Drives Devastating Weather Disasters Globally (Climate Progress)
- Americans’ Concern About Global Warming Rises Again:
- Americans’ Concern About Climate Change Is Growing (Climate Progress):
If you are concerned about global warming, you are part of a growing majority that hadn’t been this large since 2008, a new Gallup poll has found. In fact, 64 percent of adults say they are worried a “great deal†or “fair amount†about global warming, up from 55 percent at this time last year.
- A tipping point’: record number of Americans see global warming as threat (Guardian UK)
- Great Barrier Reef In Trouble Amid Worldwide Coral Bleaching Event:
- Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching threat raised to highest level (Guardian UK):
Environment minister accused of omitting climate change as cause of bleaching after surveying death of coral in reef’s far north.
- Barrier Reef bleaching event threat level increased (ABC Australia)
- Great Barrier Reef’s Bleaching Crisis Reaches ‘Severe’ Level, As Photos Reveal Widespread Coral Death (Huffington Post):
The new stills … show large sections of coral drained of all color and fighting for survival.
- VIDEO: Video shows extent of coral bleaching in Great Barrier Reef (The Weather Network)
‘GREEN NEWS EXTRA’ (Stuff we didn’t have time for in today’s audio report)…
- Carbon emissions highest in 66 million years, since dinosaur age (Reuters):
The rate of carbon emissions is higher than at any time in fossil records stretching back 66 million years to the age of the dinosaurs, according to a study on Monday that sounds an alarm about risks to nature from man-made global warming.
- New Galápagos Sanctuary Has World’s Highest Abundance of Sharks (National Geographic):
A new sanctuary now protects the unique marine life around the Galápagos Islands, including the highest abundance of sharks known in the world.
- How Water Shortages Threaten Jobs And Growth Across The World (Reuters):
Three out of four jobs globally are dependent on water – which means shortages and limited access may limit economic growth in the future.
- Baltimore Struggles To Protect Children From Lead Paint (NPR):
When a doctor found that Kenicer Carty’s 1-year-old daughter had a dangerously high level of lead last year, it triggered an alarm of sorts. Officials sent an inspector to Carty’s 1930 row house in northeast Baltimore. It turned out that every single window had hazardous chipping lead paint.
- Panama Canal Sets Depth Limit On Ships Due To Drought (Reuters):
The Panama Canal will next month impose new draft restrictions on ships due to falling water levels at nearby lakes that form part of the waterway, the authority that administers the canal said in a statement on Monday.
- Michigan Outlines Flint Recovery Plan (Reuters):
Michigan’s government on Monday released goals to help the city of Flint recover from a health crisis caused by the lead contamination of its drinking water.
- Sec. Jewell in Burns, OR: ‘This Land Belongs To All Americans’ (Oregon Live):
Harney County, infamous now for enduring a 41-day occupation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, may find itself back in the spotlight soon and this time it will be the government’s doing. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell concluded a day of tours and meetings in the Burns area Monday by declaring she intends to help trumpet a success that got overshadowed by acts of the armed protesters who took over the reserve Jan. 2.
- Mossville’s End (Chemical Engineering News):
As Sasol’s huge petrochemical project lifts Southwest Louisiana, an environmental justice community dissolves in its shadow.
- As Coal’s Future Grows Murkier, Banks Pull Financing NY TRimes):
As coal stocks plummet and a growing number of coal companies face bankruptcy, large banks are increasingly taking their money out of coal investments. “Tens of thousands of miners were on strike and coal prices were skyrocketing in October 1902. Afraid of unrest, President Theodore Roosevelt sought the help of John Pierpont Morgan. The powerful banker, who held great sway over the coal industry, brokered a deal with the miners that ended the strike.
- Feds Propose 5-Year Water Bottling Permit For Nestle In California (The Hill):
Federal officials are proposing to give Nestle a new five-year permit to bottle water on federal land in drought-ridden California.
- Want to fight climate change? Here are the 7 critical life changes you should make (Grist) [emphasis added]:
So, given the imperfections of this world, what is a lone wolf such as yourself to do? Here are some conclusions gleaned from this study: 1. Buy the most fuel-efficient car you can afford, then drive it as little as possible….
FOR MORE on Climate Science and Climate Change, go to our Green News Report: Essential Background Page
But exactly how bad is still an open question, and a lot depends not only on how we react, but how quickly. The rate at which humans cut down on greenhouse gas emissions–if we do choose to cut them–will have a large bearing on how the world turns out by 2100, the forecasts reveal.
Restraining global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius will require changing how the world produces and uses energy to power its cities and factories, heats and cools buildings, as well as moves people and goods in airplanes, trains, cars, ships and trucks, according to the IPCC. Changes are required not just in technology, but also in people’s behavior.
Cheap poison. Very expensive.
Please talk about the practical implications of getting off of fossil fuels. After Belgium, the “liberal” media said they are attacking our way of life. Our way of life is based on cheap fossil fuels, and if you want to go renewable, we need to change our way of life. We can stop fracking tomorrow by making certain changes.
1) Travel needs to be reduced. Airline tickets are not reflecting the reality of gas prices. Large sporting events should be limited, concerts, etc. Didn’t anybody make a comment about the Iran Treaty with the sale of 130 Airbus planes? Follow the money.
Put people to work by starting urban gardens, insulating houses and putting in wind turbines and solar panels EVERYWHERE. This will help employment and our economy. People should buy EV’s. Don’t blame the Koch Bros. and exxon anymore, blame the inaction of people.
This would be the revolution that Bernie is talking about.
Zoning in:
(Why Sea Level Rise May Be The Greatest Threat To Civilization – 6).